401k vs. Roth 401k: Which Is Better for Your Retirement Plan?

Most companies no longer offer new employees apension plan, which used to be the standard retirement program. Today, companies usually provide employer-sponsored retirement programs — and they typically come with some kind of employer match — the most common of which are the 401k and Roth 401k.

The 401k retirement plan refers to the section of the IRS Code that gives employees the ability to set aside part of their wages on a tax-deductible basis. The plans cut costs for the employer and give employees more control over their retirement savings.

Your employer will generally offer two types of 401k plans: traditional and Roth. From a tax perspective, they are very similar, so it’s important to understand when and how you’ll pay your 401k taxes when you’re retirement planning.

Traditional vs. Roth 401k: What Are the Differences?

Two types of 401k plans mean two sets of rules. Understand the differences between the Roth 401k and 401k.

Traditional 401k

Contribution: You contribute to a traditional 401k with before-tax dollars, which means that you don’t pay taxes on your contribution when you receive your wages.

Withdrawal: The minute you withdraw money from a traditional 401k, that money becomes taxable income. “[You] pay the piper when you start to make withdrawals at whatever income bracket you are at that time on all contributions and earnings,” said Karen Lee, a CFP at Karen Lee and Associates and author of “It’s Just Money. So Why Does It Cause So Many Problems?”

Required minimum distribution: You might have to take a required minimum distribution each year from your 401k, beginning when you turn 70.5.

Roth 401k

Contribution: You contribute to a Roth 401k with “after-tax” dollars, which means that you are investing part of your net take-home pay.

Withdrawal: Your withdrawals are subject to certain requirements, such as your age and the length of time you had the account. When you withdraw your Roth 401k retirement savings, you don’t pay federal income taxes on those amounts. That’s because you paid taxes on it years earlier when you made your 401k contributions.

When to Choose a Traditional 401k

Choosing a Roth vs. traditional 401k depends on your current age and tax bracket. “When you are earning more later in your career and are in a higher tax bracket, you might want the current year tax savings that traditional, tax-deferred contributions provide,” said Stuart Robertson, president & general manager of Capital One Advisors.

“I would rather have a bird in the hand when it comes to my 401k,” said Damon Gonzalez, CFP and IRCP at Domestique Capital LLC, a financial planning firm headquartered in Plano, TX. “When I do a traditional contribution, I pay less taxes this year and get immediate benefits.”

You should also keep in mind that the current taximplications of 401k withdrawalsare known, whereas the future is uncertain. “Many people are making a large gamble with the Roth 401k that the government will not change the rules by the time they retire,” Gonzalez said. “What if [your Roth 401k withdrawals] are no longer tax-free when you retire?”

When to Choose a Roth 401k

“For younger investors who expect to advance in their careers and earn a higher income, contributing into Roth now can be a smart move since your standard of living and earnings will likely increase by retirement,” said Robertson. “In this scenario, you can expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than you are early in your career, and you save on taxes by paying more today (at a lower rate) and pay less at retirement (when you will presumably be at a higher tax rate).”

Roth 401k vs.Traditional 401k: Contribute to Both If You Can

The most important thing to consider when deciding between these two retirement savings plans is whether you will benefit more from the upfront tax break that you’ll get with a traditional plan or the deferred benefit that you’ll get with a Roth plan.

“The higher your federal income tax bracket is today, the more attractive the traditional 401k is,” Lee said. “The younger you are, the longer your money will grow due to compounded earnings; thus the more potential gain you will have, [and] the Roth 401k becomes more attractive.”

However, it’s not an all-or-nothing decision when it comes to Roth vs. traditional. You might consider contributing some to each option if you have the opportunity.

Whichever 401k plan you choose for your retirement investment — whether traditional, Roth or both –contribute as much as you can now so you’ll have more choices with your retirement money later.

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